James Mayin is a young man from Neno District who was once a devoted member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In his church, he served as a youth group secretary and was very active in church activities. In 2025, he successfully completed his academic examinations with very good grades and was selected to attend the University of Malawi, Chancellor College (CHANCO), to pursue his dreams of higher education.
Before leaving for university, a dawah team from iERA outreach specialists visited his village to conduct Islamic classes. One day, James decided to attend the class, but his intention was not to learn. Instead, he went there to challenge the speakers, debate with them, and even mock their teachings. During the sessions, whenever the speakers invited questions, James would confidently stand up and argue that Jesus was his savior, quoting verses from the Bible to support his belief. The outreach team respectfully answered his questions and also asked him thoughtful questions from the same Bible he was using.
One day, while sitting alone at home, James began to reflect deeply on the questions he had asked and the answers he had received. He realized that the responses had made him think in ways he had never considered before. This reflection sparked a strong curiosity in his heart, and he began to feel that Islam might truly be the religion from Allah. Gradually, he stopped attending church services. When church members noticed his absence, they visited him at home to ask why he was not coming to church. At first, he told them he was sick because he was still thinking carefully about his decision.
During this time, James continued to reflect and study, reading the Bible more carefully and questioning many beliefs he had previously accepted without deep understanding. Eventually, he realized that people should sincerely search for the truth instead of simply following traditions. With this conviction, he spoke to his parents about his desire to embrace Islam. His parents told him that faith is a personal choice and that on the Day of Judgment everyone will answer for themselves. With this understanding, James took his Shahadah and accepted Islam. After embracing Islam, he dedicated himself to seeking Islamic knowledge and strengthening his faith. He also made a great sacrifice by giving up his place at the university and stepping away from his secular studies so that he could focus on learning and practicing his new religion.
